Nova Scotia residents, businesses and environment to receive better protection from coastal flooding

GRAND PRÉ, NS, April 17, 2019 /CNW/ - Now more than ever, communities need help adapting to the frequent and intensifying weather events caused by climate change. Reducing the impact of natural disasters, such as flooding, is critical to keeping Canadian families safe, protecting local businesses and supporting a strong economy and the middle class.

The Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Rural Economic Development, and the Honourable Lloyd Hines, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, today announced funding for two projects in Nova Scotia to reduce the impact of coastal flooding along the Bay of Fundy and Minas Basin.

These projects will improve over 64 kilometers of dyke systems and causeways in over 60 towns and communities on the western coast of Nova Scotia and along Highway 101. Improvements will provide flood protection for tens of thousands of residents and businesses, numerous wineries, historical and world heritage sites, Indigenous communities and over 20,000 hectares of farmland. Furthermore, these projects will mitigate damage to the region's ecosystems and municipal infrastructure caused by rising tides and storm surge events.

The completion of these projects will strengthen the resilience of dyke systems, reduce risks to public safety, and minimise disruption to economic activity in one of the most historical and cultural tourist destinations in Atlantic Canada.

The Governments of Canada and Nova Scotia are each contributing over $56.9 million to these projects. Canada's contribution is made through the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund.

Quotes

"The Bay of Fundy and Minas Basin are ecologically rich marine environments that have a profound effect on the communities, residents and businesses along their shores. These projects will protect over 60 Nova Scotia communities from coastal flooding caused by severe storms, rising sea levels and other environmental events. By investing in infrastructure that protects communities now, we are helping build for the future."

The Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Rural Economic Development

"Extreme weather is becoming more severe, more frequent, more damaging and more expensive because of climate change. By investing in the infrastructure that protects our neighbourhoods, businesses, and families, we are building communities that can withstand future natural disasters and thrive for generations to come."

The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety

"I'm pleased to work with our federal partners to upgrade our aging fundy dykeland system through this significant investment. These improvements to our dykeland system will help provide protection against the impacts of climate change and will protect our national heritage sites, our Indigenous and Acadian cultural sites, our municipal and provincial infrastructure as well as our agricultural lands."

The Honourable Keith Colwell, Nova Scotia Minister of Agriculture

"The replacement of the aboiteau and upgrades to the causeway at the Avon River are key components for completing the twinning of Highway 101 through the Windsor area. Today's funding announcement enables us to move forward with the important project that will make our roads safer for drivers and provide critical flood protection for agricultural lands and the communities in the Windsor area."

The Honorable Lloyd Hines, Nova Scotia Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal

Quick facts

• The Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF) is a $2-billion, 10-year program to help communities build the infrastructure they need to better withstand natural hazards such as floods, wildfires, earthquakes and droughts.
• DMAF is part of the federal government's Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, which is providing more than $180 billion over 12 years for public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and rural and northern communities.
• Investing in green infrastructure that helps communities cope with the intensifying effects of climate change is an integral part of Canada's transition to a more resilient, low-carbon economy, which is among the commitments made under the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change.
• Budget 2019, Investing in the Middle Class, is the government's plan to create more good well-paying jobs, put homeownership within reach of more Canadians, help working people get the training they need to succeed, support seniors, and lay the foundation for national pharmacare.
• Announcements in Budget 2019 build on the Government's Investing in Canada plan, under which the Government is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years to build infrastructure in communities across the country.
• With many municipalities across Canada facing serious infrastructure deficits, Budget 2019 proposes a one-time transfer of $2.2 billion through the federal Gas Tax Fund to address short-term priorities in municipalities and First Nations communities.

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Backgrounder

Nova Scotia residents, businesses and environment to receive better protection from coastal flooding

Joint federal-provincial funding through the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF) of the Investing in Canada Plan will support coastal flooding mitigation projects in Nova Scotia.

The governments of Canada and Nova Scotia are contributing over $56.9 million towards these projects.

Project Information:

Associated links

Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund:
http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/dmaf-faac/index-eng.html  

Investing in Canada: Canada's Long-Term Infrastructure Plan:
http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/icp-publication-pic-eng.html 

Federal infrastructure investments in Nova Scotia: https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/investments-2002-investissements/ns-eng.html

Investing in Canada plan project map: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/gmap-gcarte/index-eng.html

Budget 2019: https://www.budget.gc.ca/2019/home-accueil-en.html

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SOURCE Infrastructure Canada